---
title: "Converting a document from PDF to DOCX format | Nutrient Java SDK"
canonical_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/java/conversion/pdf-to-word-document/"
md_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/java/conversion/pdf-to-word-document.md"
last_updated: "2026-06-09T10:32:42.836Z"
description: "Converting a document from PDF to DOCX format using Nutrient Java SDK."
---

# Converting a document from PDF to DOCX format

Use PDF-to-Word conversion when you need editable content from existing PDF files. Common use cases include:

- Updating contract templates

- Reusing document content in new files

- Enabling collaborative editing in Word

- Keeping conversion inside your app for sensitive documents

[Download sample](https://www.nutrient.io/downloads/samples/java/pdf-to-word-document.zip)

## Use the Java SDK for conversion

Use the Java SDK to convert PDF files to DOCX directly in your document workflow.

## Preparing the project

Define a package and create a class for the conversion flow:

```java

package io.nutrient.Sample;

```

Import Nutrient Java SDK classes. Prefer explicit imports for the classes you use:

```java

import io.nutrient.sdk.Document;
import io.nutrient.sdk.exceptions.NutrientException;

public class PDFToWordDocument {

```

Create a `main` method and declare `NutrientException`:

```java

    public static void main(String[] args) throws NutrientException {

```

Then add the SDK-specific conversion logic.

## Proceeding with the conversion

This guide uses the `Document` class. Initialize it with a [try-with-resources statement](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/essential/exceptions/tryResourceClose.html) to close resources correctly.

Open source files by file path or stream. This example uses a file path:

```java

        try (Document document = Document.open("input.pdf")) {

```

The path can be absolute or relative. This example reads from the working directory.

After loading the PDF, call SDK methods on the document instance. For the full API surface, refer to the [API reference](https://www.nutrient.io/api/java-sdk/).

Export the document as Word. Write to a file path or stream. This example writes `output.docx` to the working directory:

```java

            document.exportAsWord("output.docx");
        }
    }
}

```

You now have an editable Word document.

## Error handling

The SDK throws `NutrientException` when conversion fails. Handle this exception in your app for custom logging, retries, or fallback logic.

## Conclusion

You now have a complete PDF-to-DOCX conversion flow in Java. Download the [sample package](https://www.nutrient.io/downloads/samples/java/pdf-to-word-document.zip) to run this example as-is.
---

## Related pages

- [Converting HTML to PDF](/guides/java/conversion/html-to-pdf.md)
- [Converting CAD files to PDF](/guides/java/conversion/cad-to-pdf.md)
- [Converting email files to PDF](/guides/java/conversion/email-to-pdf.md)
- [Converting a document from XLSX to PDF format](/guides/java/conversion/excel-document-to-pdf.md)
- [Nutrient Java SDK conversion guides](/guides/java/conversion.md)
- [Converting a document from Markdown to PDF format](/guides/java/conversion/markdown-to-pdf.md)
- [Converting PDF documents to Excel format for data analysis](/guides/java/conversion/pdf-to-excel-document.md)
- [Converting PDF documents to HTML format for web publishing](/guides/java/conversion/pdf-to-html.md)
- [Converting PDF documents to image format](/guides/java/conversion/pdf-to-image.md)
- [Converting PDF documents to PDF/A format](/guides/java/conversion/pdf-to-pdf-a.md)
- [Converting PDF documents to PowerPoint presentations](/guides/java/conversion/pdf-to-powerpoint-document.md)
- [Converting PDF documents to Markdown format](/guides/java/conversion/pdf-to-markdown.md)
- [Converting PDF documents to PDF/UA format](/guides/java/conversion/pdf-to-pdf-ua.md)
- [Converting a Word document to PDF while preserving comments](/guides/java/conversion/word-document-to-pdf-including-comments.md)
- [Converting a document from PPTX to PDF format](/guides/java/conversion/powerpoint-document-to-pdf.md)
- [Converting a document from DOCX to PDF/UA format](/guides/java/conversion/word-document-to-pdf-ua.md)
- [Converting a document from DOCX to PDF format](/guides/java/conversion/word-document-to-pdf.md)